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Tyra Banks Discusses Her Weight Gain

January 25, 2007
Evil Beet
Tyra Banks
11 Comments

Supermodel-turned-reality-show-host-turned-talk-show-queen Tyra Banks spoke with People magazine about the weight she’s put on since she retired from modeling in 2005. When a tabloid posted these pics of Tyra looking a little hefty in a swimsuit with some disparaging headlines, Tyra’s feelings were understandably hurt. “I get so much mail from young girls who say, ‘I look up to you, you’re not as skinny as everyone else, I think you’re beautiful,’ ” she says. “So when they say that my body is ‘ugly’ and ‘disgusting,’ what does that make those girls feel like?”

Continues Tyra, “I’ve made millions of dollars with the body I have, so where’s the pain in that? If I was in pain, I would have dieted. The pain is not there – the pain is someone printing a picture of me and saying those (horrible) things.”

Tyra’s long been a proponent of a realistic body image for young women, and she always encourages the girls on Top Model to eat healthy and take care of themselves. The competition used to regularly include a token “fat model,” but producers must have realized the hopelessness of that cause, because the more recent cycles have been all thin girls. Last year, Tyra announced that she would no longer allow photo shoots of herself to be digitally retouched before being used in magazine, again emphasizing that this sends a message promoting unrealistic beauty to women. Because, you know, every woman can look like Tyra Banks if she just exercises and eats right.

But is there an additional motive to Tyra’s weight gain? “(TV execs) think it’s better when I’m at 155 lbs. – at 145, they feel I’m not as relatable,” she says. Perhaps Tyra’s trying to discard her supermodel image and adopt a look that Midwestern housewives will be more comfortable taking advice from.

11 CommentsLeave a comment

  • that picture of tyra was not cool she does not look like that and even if she does SO WHAT. what the big deal every body gains waight then most times they keep it or loose it well i am 13 yrs. and i weigh 91 pounds when you say those kind of things it makes people feel bad about there self cause tyra is an inspiration to many all over the world she is even mine so make fun all you want cause thats just show that you dont feel good about yourself so you go and talk about someone else just to make yourself feel good again so please dont talk about people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • It sounds fantastic. The question is – this post is absolutely new and original, isn’t it? It seems to me I’ve saw it somewhere before.

  • I disagree with you. Indeed, I’m not giving a ringing disagreement, but just sayin’ what I think. I have my opinion, you have yours.

  • I’m not sure of Tyra’s motives for gaining weight or even if the the weight gain was intentional. Role models lead by example and are honest when they mess up or made a bad decision. It’s hypocritical to tell young girls to eat healthy and the individual relaying the message doesn’t appear to eat healthy. It’s not about the money or the body or the picture it’s about the message. If you’ve eaten too many fried foods or deserts say that then make a change. If you’re sick and gained from meds or hormone issues…say that. Weight gain is one thing but be honest about the reason for the weight gain and get down to a “healthy” weight and practice what you preach.